Coated surface stabilized polycarbonate article

ABSTRACT

A coated polycarbonate article having improved resistance to degradation by ultraviolet radiation, abrasion and attack by chemical solvents comprising a polycarbonate resin article with its surface layers impregnated with an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and having deposited on said impregnated surface a coating comprised of (i) a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups primer layer; and (ii) a top coat disposed on said primer layer containing a colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane.

This invention relates to a coated and ultraviolet light stabilized polycarbonate article having superior resistance to abrasion, attack by chemical solvents and degradation by ultraviolet light. In the article of the present invention the polycarbonate resin is stabilized against degradation by ultraviolet light by having impregnated in its surface layers an ultraviolet light absorbing compound. Protection against abrasion and chemical solvents is provided by a coating adherently disposed on said impregnated surface comprised of a colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane which is tenaciously and durably adhered to said surface by means of a primer layer which is comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Polycarbonate resins, due to their many advantageous properties, are widely used in industry and commerce. One of their uses is as transparent glazing material for windows, windshields, and the like. While polycarbonate resins are easily fabricated into the desired shape and have excellent physical and chemical properties, such as being less dense and having greater breakage resistance than glass, they have a relatively low abrasion and chemical solvent resistance, and like many other organic polymeric materials are subject to degradation by ultraviolet radiation.

In order to overcome this relatively low resistance to surface abrasion and attack by chemical solvents various protective coatings, which coatings posses greater abrasion and chemical solvent resistance than the polycarbonate resins, have been applied onto the surface of polycarbonate resins. However, in order to qualify as a successful coating material for polycarbonate resins there are several requirements that the prospective coating material must meet. The coating material must be harder and more solvent resistant than the polycarbonate resin. The coating material must be compatible with the polycarbonate and must not degrade the polycarbonate such as by crazing the polycarbonate or otherwise adversely affecting the properties of the polycarbonate resin. The coating material must durably adhere to the surface of the polycarbonate. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,451,838; 3,986,997 and 4,027,073 disclose organopolysiloxane coating compositions and techniques for the application of these organopolysiloxane coatings onto polycarbonate surfaces. While these organopolysiloxane coatings have many desirable properties, e.g., they are hard, abrasion and chemical solvent resistant, and are compatible with the underlying polycarbonate, these organopolysiloxanes do not in all instances posses the requisite degree of adhesion to and durability on the surface of the polycarbonate resin. In order to improve the adhesion of these organopolysiloxane coatings to the polycarbonate substrate it has been suggested to use adhesion promoting primer layers between the organopolysiloxane and the polycarbonate. However, the use of a primer layer adds an additional degree of complexity and uncertainty to this already difficult and largely empirical area of coating technology. In order to function effectively the primer material must not only increase the adhesion of the organopolysiloxane coating to the polycarbonate but must also be compatible with both the polycarbonate resin and the organopolysiloxane. U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,397 describes a process for providing a hard coating, inter alia, on polycarbonate resin by priming the polycarbonate surface with an adhesion promoting thermosettable acrylic polymer and applying onto this primer a thermosettable organopolysiloxane. An article produced by this process, while possessing acceptable initial adhesion of the organopolysiloxane to the polycarbonate, suffers from the disadvantage that upon prolonged exposure to weathering, particularly the sunlight, the organopolysiloxane coating generally tends to lose its initial good adhesion to the polycarbonate resin substrate. Furthermore, the abrasion resistance of the coated article is generally dependent upon the thickness of the thermoset acrylic polymer primer layer. The abrasion resistance of the coated article generally decreases as the thickness of the primer layer increases. The deterioration of the adhesion of the organopolysiloxane coating to the polycarbonate substrate upon exposure to weathering and the decrease of the abrasion resistance of the coated article upon an increase in the primer thickness is generally rectified in articles produced in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,699, wherein a primer layer comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups is interposed between the polycarbonate resin and the organopolysiloxane top coat.

While these prior art methods generally provide a protective coating for the polycarbonate article effective to protect it from surface abrasion and attack by chemical solvents, they do not, with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,699, provide protection against degradation by ultraviolet radiation. It would appear at first glance in view of the prior art that there are three methods of protecting the coated article from degradation by ultraviolet radiation, i.e., (1) incorporating an ultraviolet radiation absorber into the silicone top coat; (2) incorporating an ultraviolet radiation absorber into the primer layer; and (3) incorporating an ultraviolet radiation absorber into the polycarbonate resin itself. However, upon closer scrutiny and in light of the mostly empirical knowledge gained in this area each of these three methods generally turns out to contain certain inherent problems. Incorporating the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound into the silicone top coat generally results in a decrease in the abrasion resistance provided by the silicone. The greater the amount of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound present in the silicone top coat, the greater the loss of abrasion resistance by the top coat. Thus, if the silicone top coat contains sufficient amounts of ultraviolet radiation absorber to effectively protect the underlying polycarbonate resin from degradation by ultraviolet radiation its abrasion resistance is generally unacceptably lowered. If the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is incorporated into the thermoset acrylic polymer primer layer the aforediscussed relationship between primer thickness and abrasion resistance of the silicone top coat comes into effect. In order to effectively protect the polycarbonate resin from ultraviolet radiation the thermoset acrylic primer layer must contain relatively large amounts of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound. But in order to contain these relatively large amounts of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound the thickness of the primer layer must be increased. However, this increase in thickness of the thermoset acrylic primer layer which is required to accomodate the necessary amounts of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compond results in a corresponding decrease in the abrasion resistance of the silicone top coat. Incorporating the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound in a thermoplastic acrylic primer layer, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,699, provides adequate protection against ultraviolet radiation to the underlying polycarbonate resin substrate without sacrificing the abrasion resistance of the silicone top coat. However, incorporating the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound into the thermoplastic acrylic primer layer adds yet another additional step to a generally sensitive multistep coating and priming process. Furthermore, incorporating too much ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound in the thermoplastic acrylic primer layer generally tends to adversely affect the adhesion of the silicone top coat to the polycarbonate resin substrate.

The third method of providing protection against ultraviolet radiation involves incorporating the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound directly into the polycarbonate resin substrate. This method involves either (i) blending the absorber with the bulk polymer, or (ii) impregnating the surface layers of the resin with the absorber. Blending the absorber with the bulk polymer results in the absorber being distributed throughout the entire polymer system. This procedure is both uneconomical, as these ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds are usually quite expensive, and not completely successful. Since most of the absorber resides in the polymer's interior instead of at the surface where it is most needed, much of the harmful ultraviolet radiation penetrates and deteriorates the surface layers of the polymer structure before reaching the majority of the interiorly distributed absorber. Furthermore, since the concentration of the absorber in the resin is limited by the degree of compatibility of the absorber with the resin, using sufficiently high concentrations of absorber effective to provide adequate surface protection generally tends to adversely affect the physical properties of the polymer. In the surface impregnation technique the ultraviolet radiation absorber resides in the surface regions of the polymer where it is most needed. Examples of typical surface impregnation techniques generally include applying the ultraviolet radiation absorber from a solution containing a compound which is aggressive towards the polycarbonate and tends to swell or soften the resin surface thus enabling the absorber to diffuse into the swelled and softened surface of the polycarbonate, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,892,889 and 4,146,658; melting the ultraviolet radiation absorber on the surface of the polycarbonate resin and allowing the molten absorber to diffuse into the surface layers of the resin, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,709; and immersing the polycarbonate in a solution containing an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound which is more soluble in the polycarbonate than in the solution, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,220 and 3,594,264.

However, the very feature which makes the surface impregnation method appear attractive, i.e., that the ultraviolet radiation absorber is distributed in the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin where it is most needed, also makes this method appear to be untenable to one skilled in the art when this method is used in conjunction with the application of a protective coating onto the polycarbonate surface. The complexity and problems associated with providing a protective coating which adheres tenaciously and durably to a polycarbonate surface have been previously discussed. The modification of a polycarbonate surface by incorporating therein an ultraviolet radiation absorber, as is done in the surface impregnation technique, adds yet further complications to this already complex area of adhering protective coatings to polycarbonate. It is well known to those skilled in the coating art that modifying the surface of polycarbonate by incorporating an additive therein has generally unpredictable and often adverse effects upon the physical properties of the polycarbonate surface. These effects upon the polycarbonate surface depend upon the particular additive employed. It is generally quite well known that the incorporation of certain additives into the surface layers of polycarbonate resin often results in the deterioration of both initial adhesion and the durability of adhesion between the polycarbonate surface and a protective coating, such as silicone, applied onto this surface. In view of this one skilled in the art would generally be led to conclude that the incorporation in the surface layers of a polycarbonate resin of an amount of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound effective to protect the polycarbonate from degradation by ultraviolet radiation would deleteriously affect the adhesion of a protective coating to this modified polycarbonate surface.

There thus exists a need for a means of simply and effectively protecting a polycarbonate resin article from degradation by ultraviolet radiation, from surface abrasion, and from attack by chemical solvents. The present invention provides such a means as well as an article which is resistant to abrasion, attack by chemical solvents, and degradation by ultraviolet radiation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a polycarbonate article which is resistant to degradation by ultraviolet radiation, abrasion and attack by chemical solvents. The article of the present invention comprises a polycarbonate resin substrate having impregnated in its surface layers at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and having disposed on said impregnated surface a coating comprised of (i) a primer layer comprising a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups adherently disposed on said impregnated surface, and (ii) a thermoset colloidal silica filled organopolysiloxane top coat adherently disposed on said primer layer.

In accordance with the present invention an article comprised of polycarbonate is formed in a conventional manner, for example by injecting molding, extrusion, cold forming, vacuum forming, blow molding, compression molding, transfer molding, and the like. The article may be in any shape and need not be a finished article of commerce, that is, it may be sheet material or film which would be cut or sized or mechanically shaped into a finished article. Therefore, as used herein, the term "article" refers to any shape or form of polycarbonate resin whether finished or stock material.

The aromatic carbonate polymers used in the practice of the instant invention have recurring structural units of the formula ##STR1## where A is a divalent aromatic radical of the dihydric phenol employed in the polymer producing reaction. These polycarbonate resins are high molecular weight aromatic carbonate polymers which may be prepared by reacting a dihydric phenol with a carbonate precursor such as phosgene, a haloformate or a carbonate ester.

The aromatic carbonate polymers of this invention may be prepared by methods well known in the art and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,161,615; 3,220,973; 3,313,659; 3,312,660; 3,313,777; 3,666,614 and 3,989,672 all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Also included herein are branched polycarbonates wherein a polyfunctional aromatic compound is reacted with the dihydric phenol and the carbonate precursor to provide a thermoplastic randomly branched polycarbonate wherein the recurring units of Formula I contain branching groups.

The preferred polycarbonate resin is one which may be derived from the reaction of bisphenol-A with phosgene. These preferred polycarbonate resins have from about 10 to about 400 recurring structural units of the general formula ##STR2##

The polycarbonate should preferably have an intrinsic viscosity between about 0.3 and about 1.0, more preferably from between about 0.4 to about 0.65 as measured at 25° C. in methylene chloride.

At least one surface of the polycarbonate article, usually the surface which is exposed to the source of ultraviolet radiation, is impregnated with at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound. The ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is dispersed throughout the surface layers of the polycarbonate article. By surface layers is meant the layers immediately adjacent to and below the surface of the polycarbonate article and generally including the surface itself.

The ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds employed in the practice of this invention can be any of the known ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds which function by reason of their ability to screen out the damaging ultraviolet portion of light due to their very high absorptivity in this region of the spectrum. These compounds include the benzophenone derivatives, the benzotriazole derivatives, benzoate esters, phenyl salicylates, derivatives of crotonic acid, malonic acid esters, and cyanoacrylates.

Included among the ultraviolet radiation absorbers which fall into the categories of benzophenone derivatives and benzotriazole derivatives are those compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,220; 3,049,443 and 2,976,259, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Some non-limiting examples of these compounds include;

2,2'-dihydroxybenzophenone;

2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-diethoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dipropoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dibutoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-ethoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-propoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-butoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-propoxybenzophenone;

2,2'-dihydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-butoxybenzophenone;

2,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone;

2,3'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-butoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4',5'-trimethoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4',6'-tributoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-butoxy-4',5'-dimethoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-2',4'-dibutylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-propoxy-4',6'-dichlorobenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-propoxy-4',6'-dibromobenzophenone;

2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-propoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-butoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-methylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-ethylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-propylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-butylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-tertiarybutylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-chlorobenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2'-chlorobenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-bromobenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy-3-methylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy-2'-ethylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4',5'-trimethoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-methylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-ethylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-propylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-butylbenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-methoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4,4'-diethoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-propoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-butoxybenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-chlorobenzophenone;

2-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-4'-bromobenzophenone;

2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-benzotriazole;

2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-tert-butylphenyl)-benzotriazole;

2-(2'-hydroxy-3'-methyl-5'-tert-butylphenyl)-benzotriazole;

2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-cyclohexylphenyl)-benzotriazole;

2-(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethylphenyl)-benzotriazole;

2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-tert-butylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole; and

2-(2'-hydroxy-3'-di-tert-butylphenyl)-benzotriazole.

Two non-limiting examples of the derivatives of crotonic acid which function as ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds are alpha-cyano-beta-(p-methoxyphenyl)-crotonic acid methyl ester and alpha-cyano-beta-N-(2-methyl-indolinyl)-crotonic acid methyl ester. The benzoate ester ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds include the C₈ -C₂₀ alkyl and aryl benzoates, alkyl and aryl hydroxybenzoates, alkaryl and aralkyl benzoates, and aralkyl and alkaryl hydroxybenzoates.

The malonic acid esters which are effective ultraviolet radiation absorbers include the benzylidene malonates. These benzylidene malonates are represented by the general formula ##STR3## wherein X is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl, preferably C₁ -C₁₀ alkyl, and alkoxy, preferably C₁ -C₁₀ alkoxy, radicals; and R and R¹ are independently selected from alkyl radicals, preferably alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl radicals, preferably those containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and hydroxyl or halogen substituents, aryl radicals, preferably the phenyl radical, alkaryl radicals, preferably those alkaryl radicals containing from 7 to about 12 carbon atoms, aralkyl radicals, preferably those aralkyl radicals containing from 7 to about 12 carbon atoms, and substituted aryl radicals, preferably phenyl radicals containing hydroxyl or halogen substituents. Preferred benzylidene malonates represented by formula III are those wherein X represents an alkoxy group and R and R¹ are independently selected from alkyl radicals. Examples of these benzylidene malonates include diethyl paramethoxybenzylidene malonate and dimethyl paramethoxybenzylidene malonate.

Among the cyanoacrylates which are useful ultraviolet radiation absorbers are those cyanoacrylates represented by the general formula ##STR4## wherein R² is alkyl or hydroxyalkyl. These compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,667 which is incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds, for the purposes of the present invention, are the benzophenone derivatives, the benzotriazole derivatives, the benzylidene malonates, and the cyanoacrylates.

The amount of the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound present in the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin is an amount effective to protect the polycarbonate resin against degradation by ultraviolet radiation. Only one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound may be present in the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin article or two or more ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds may be dispersed in the surface layers. Generally, a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is present in the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin article so that the absorbance of the polycarbonate at λmaximum is at least one, which corresponds to absorption at λmaximum of at least 90% of the incident ultraviolet radiation by the polycarbonate surface layers. The absorbance is calculated using the relationship A=log (I_(o) /I) wherein A is the absorbance, I_(o) is the intensity of incident light, and I is the intensity of transmitted light.

The ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound can be impregnated into the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin article by any of several methods. One of these methods involves applying the ultraviolet radiation absorber from a solution containing the ultraviolet radiation absorber and a compound which is aggressive towards the polycarbonate resin (such as an organic solvent) and tends to swell and/or soften the resin thus allowing the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound to diffuse into the softened and/or swelled surface of the polycarbonate resin article. In this method the solution containing the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and the polycarbonate aggressive compound is brought into contact with the surface of the polycarbonate resin article and is kept in contact therewith for a period of time effective for the aggressive compound to swell the surface layers of the polycarbonate and for the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound to disperse into these swelled surface layers. Some specific examples of this type of technique are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,617,330; 3,892,889 and 4,146,658.

Another method of impregnating the surface layers of a polycarbonate resin article with an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound involves applying the ultraviolet light absorber onto the surface of the resin article, as for example from a solution, from a dispersion such as a dispersion in water, as a solid in the form of a powder or dust, or as a liquid in the form of a melt, and thereafter heating the coated resin to a temperature above the melting point of the absorber and below the melting point of the polycarbonate resin.

Yet another method of surface impregnating a polycarbonate resin with an ultraviolet light absorber involves immersing a polycarbonate resin article in a bath containing an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound which is more soluble in the polycarbonate resin than in the solvent component of the bath. Generally, the solvent component of the bath is water or oil. This type of technique of impregnating a polycarbonate resin surface with an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,220 and 3,594,264.

Still another method, and one which is generally preferred, of impregnating the surface regions of a polycarbonate resin article with an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound involves the utilization of an ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition containing at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and a nonaggressive liquid carrier for said compound. By nonaggressive is meant that the liquid carrier is nonaggressive towards the polycarbonate resin, i.e., it does not attack and deleteriously affect the polycarbonate resin nor does it cause the polycarbonate surface to soften and swell. Since a nonaggressive ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition is used there is no degradation or adverse effect on the polycarbonate resin. Furthermore, since the stabilizing composition is nonaggressive towards the polycarbonate the processing step does not need to be as rigidly controlled, with respect to the residence time of the stabilizing composition on the surface of the polycarbonate resin, as in the case of an aggressive stabilizing composition.

There are basically two ways of practicing this preferred method. In the first way a stabilizing composition containing the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and the nonaggressive liquid carrier therefore is applied onto the surface of a preheated polycarbonate article by any of several known methods such as spraying, flow coating, brushing, and the like. The ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition is kept in contact with the preheated polycarbonate resin article for a period of time sufficient for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to effectively impregnate the surface layers of the polycarbonate article, that is for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to be dispersed throughout the surface layers of the polycarbonate article in concentrations sufficient to provide protection against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation. Since the stabilizing composition is nonaggressive towards the polycarbonate there is no upper time limit that the stabilizing composition can remain in contact with the resin surface. Rather, the maximum residence time of the stabilizing composition on the surface of the polycarbonate resin article is governed by such secondary considerations as speed of processing of the polycarbonate article, rate of cooling of the polycarbonate article--if the polycarbonate resin article cools below the critical temperature no further impregnation of the absorber into the surface layers of the resin will take place--rate of evaporation of the liquid carrier, and the like. The minimum period of time that the stabilizing composition is kept in contact with the polycarbonate surface is that period of time which is sufficient for the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound to impregnate the surface layers of the resin article in concentrations effective to protect the polycarbonate resin against degradation by ultraviolet radiation. This minimum period generally depends to a certain degree upon the particular ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound present in the stabilizing composition, the particular nonaggressive liquid carrier present in the stabilizing composition, and the temperature to which the polycarbonate article has been preheated. Generally, the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition is kept in contact with the preheated polycarbonate surface from about 5 seconds to about 2 hours, preferably from about 30 seconds to about 15 minutes.

It is critical to the process that the polycarbonate resin article be at a temperature sufficiently high when the stabilizing composition is applied thereon for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to impregnate the surface layers thereof in concentrations effective to provide protection against degradation of the polycarbonate by ultraviolet radiation. If the polycarbonate is not at this sufficiently high temperature when the stabilizing composition is contacted therewith the ultraviolet radiation absorber will not diffuse into or impregnate the surface layers of the polycarbonate and, consequently, the polycarbonate will not be protected against degradation by ultraviolet radiation. Generally, the minimum temperature at which impregnation of the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin article by the ultraviolet radiation absorber takes place is about 65° C. Preferably the polycarbonate article should be at about at least 75° C. as at this temperature and above the ultraviolet radiation absorber generally diffuses quite readily and in large amounts into the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin. The maximum temperature to which the polycarbonate resin is preheated, and therefore the maximum temperature of the polycarbonate resin at the time of contact with the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition, is governed by the fact that the temperature of the polycarbonate be not sufficiently high so as to deleteriously affect the physical properties of the polycarbonate resin. Thus the upper temperature limit is below about 150° C. which is the glass transition temperature of the polycarbonate resin. Preferably it should be below about 135° C., the temperature at which bubbles and other imperfections begin to appear in the polycarbonate resin.

Thus in the practice of this method the polycarbonate resin article should be at a temperature between about 65° C. and about 150° C. during contact with the stabilizing composition. For optimum results and optimum operating conditions the polycarbonate article should preferably be at a temperature between about 75° C. and about 135° C. The polycarbonate article is preheated to this temperature before the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition is brought into contact with the surface thereof. There is no active heating of the polycarbonate article during the period that the stabilizing composition is in contact with the surface of the article. The stabilizing composition is not heated but is generally at about room temperature at the time of its application onto the surface of the preheated polycarbonate resin article.

The second technique involving the utilization of an ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition containing at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and a nonaggressive liquid carrier therefore comprises applying onto the surface of a polycarbonate resin article the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition and thereafter heating the polycarbonate article having a layer of the stabilizing composition on its surface to a temperature effective for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to diffuse into and impregnate the surface layers of the polycarbonate article. Heating at the effective temperature is continued and the stabilizing composition is kept in contact with the surface of the article at the effective temperature for a period of time sufficient for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to effectively impregnate the surface layers of the polycarbonate article, i.e., for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to be dispersed throughout the surface layers of the polycarbonate article in concentrations sufficient to provide protection against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet light. Since the stabilizing composition is nonaggressive towards the polycarbonate there is no upper time limit that the composition can remain in contact with the polycarbonate resin article during heating at the effective temperature. The minimum period of time that the stabilizing composition is kept in contact with the surface of the article at the effective temperature is that period of time which is sufficient for the absorber to impregnate the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin article in concentrations effective to provide protection to the polycarbonate resin against degradation by ultraviolet radiation. This minimum period of time generally depends to a certain degree upon the particular ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and the particular liquid carrier therefor which are present in the stabilizing composition, and the temperature to which the stabilizing composition coated article is heated. Generally, the article with the stabilizing composition on its surface is actively heated at the effective temperature for a period of time ranging from about 5 seconds to about 2 hours, and preferably from about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes.

As in the technique wherein the stabilizing composition is applied onto a preheated polycarbonate surface, so also in this technique it is critical that the polycarbonate article with the stabilizing composition on its surface be heated to a temperature sufficiently high for the ultraviolet radiation absorber to impregnate the surface layers of the article in concentrations effective to provide protection against ultraviolet radiation but insufficiently high for thermal degradation of the polycarbonate resin to occur. Generally, the minimum temperature at which effective impregnation of the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin article occurs is at about 65° C. Preferably the polycarbonate article with a layer of the stabilizing composition disposed on its surface is heated to at least about 75° C., as at this temperature and above the ultraviolet radiation absorber generally diffuses quite readily and in large amounts into the surface layers of the polycarbonate resin. The maximum temperature to which the coated polycarbonate article can be heated is governed by the fact that this temperature be not sufficiently high so as to deleteriously affect the physical properties of the polycarbonate resin, i.e., that thermal degradation of the polycarbonate resin does not occur. Thus the upper temperature limit is generally below about 150° C. which is generally the glass transition temperature of polycarbonate resin. Preferably the temperature should be below about 135° C., the point at which bubbles and other imperfections usually begin to appear in the resin.

In both of these techniques utilizing a nonaggressive stabilizing composition the liquid carrier for the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound must not only be nonaggressive towards the polycarbonate but is must also wet the polycarbonate surface. Thus, for example, while water is nonaggressive towards polycarbonate it is not an effective liquid carrier for the purposes of the present invention because it does not wet the polycarbonate. The ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition can contain only one liquid carrier or it may contain two or more of the liquid carriers. If two or more of the liquid carriers are present in the stabilizing composition they should be miscible with each other. The preferred nonaggressive liquid carriers for the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound are hydroxy ethers, alcohols, alcohol-water mixtures, liquid aliphatic hydrocarbons, liquid cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons such as those marketed by the E. I. duPont Company under the tradename Freon, e.g., dichlorodifluoromethane, trichloromonofluoromethane, and the like. Generally it is preferred that these liquid carriers be relatively volatile, i.e., that they volatilize at or below about 130° C.

The preferred alcohols are the aliphatic alcohols with the alkanols, particularly the C₁ -C₆ alkanols, being preferred. Some nonlimiting examples of these alkanols include methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, tertiarybutanol, and the like.

The preferred liquid aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons are the liquid saturated aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons containing from 5 to about 20 carbon atoms. Some nonlimiting examples of these hydrocarbons include pentane, hexane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, the various positional isomers of the forgoing, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cyclooctane, and the like.

The hydroxy ethers which are useful as carriers in the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition are compounds represented by the formula

    R.sup.3 --O--R.sup.4 --OH                                  V.

wherein R³ is an alkyl or an alkoxy alkyl radical containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, and R⁴ is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

The ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains from about 0.01 to about 15 weight percent of an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound, preferably from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of an ultraviolet radiation absorber, and more preferably from about 1 to about 8 weight percent of an ultraviolet radiation absorber. The stabilizing composition may contain only one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound or a combination of two or more ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds. If two or more ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds are present in the stabilizing composition their combined weight percentages generally range from about 0.01 to about 15 weight percent of the stabilizing composition. These amounts are generally effective to provide protection to the polycarbonate resin against degradation by ultraviolet radiation.

On the surface of the polycarbonate resin article with its surface layers impregnated with at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is adherently disposed a primer layer comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups. This thermoplastic acrylic polymer is applied onto the impregnated surface of the polycarbonate article from a priming composition generally containing the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups and a suitable organic solvent therefor.

The term thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups as used herein is meant to embrace within its scope those thermoplastic polymers resulting from the polymerization of one or more substituted acrylic or methacrylic acid ester monomers represented by the general formula

    CH.sub.2 ═CY--COOR.sup.5 Z                             VI.

wherein Y is hydrogen or a methyl radical; R⁵ is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical; and Z is a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, or Si(OR⁷)₃ group, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are alkyl groups, preferably alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. R⁵ is preferably a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. Copolymers resulting from the copolymerization of two substituted acrylic or methacrylic acid ester monomers are also included within the term thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups. Also included within this term are copolymers resulting from the copolymerization of acrylic acid ester monomers and/or methacrylic acid ester monomers represented by the general formula

    CH.sub.2 ═CY.sup.1 --COOR.sup.8                        VII.

wherein Y¹ is hydrogen or a methyl radical and R⁸ is an alkyl radical, with the substituted acrylic acid ester or substituted methacrylic acid ester monomers of formula VI. Some nonlimiting examples of acrylic acid ester or methacrylic acid ester monomers of formula VII which can be copolymerized with the substituted acrylic or methacrylic acid ester monomers of formula VI. to form the thermoplastic acrylic polymers containing functional groups include methyl acrylate, ethyl, acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, and the like. Examples of copolymers of this type include copolymers obtained by the copolymerization of ethyl methacrylate and hydroxyethyl methcrylate, ethyl methacrylate and gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, methyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl acrylate, and the like.

The polymerization of these substituted and unsubstituted acrylate and methacrylate monomers to provide the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups useful in the practice of the present invention may be accomplished by any of the well known polymerization techniques.

Some nonlimiting examples of typical substituted acrylic and methacrylic acid ester monomers represented by formula VI include:

    CH.sub.2 ═C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH;

    CH.sub.2 ═CHCOOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH;

    CH.sub.2 ═CHCOOCH.sub.2 CHOHCH.sub.3 ;

    CH.sub.2 ═CHCOOCH.sub.2 CHNH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ;

    CH.sub.2 ═C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ;

    CH.sub.2 ═CHCOOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ;

    CH.sub.2 ═CHCOOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 ;

    CH.sub.2 ═C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 ;

    CH.sub.2 ═CHCOOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOH;

    CH.sub.2 ═C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOH;

    CH.sub.2 ═C(CH.sub.3)COO(CH.sub.2).sub.6 SH; ##STR5##

The term thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups thus includes homopolymers obtained from the polymerization of a substituted acrylic or methacrylic acid ester monomer; copolymers obtained from the copolymerization of two substituted acrylic acid ester monomers; copolymers obtained from the copolymerization of two substituted methacrylic acid ester monomers; copolymers obtained from the copolymerization of a substituted acrylic acid ester monomer and a substituted methacrylic acid ester monomer; copolymers obtained by the copolymerization of a substituted acrylic acid ester monomer and a methacrylic acid ester monomer; copolymers obtained by the coplymerization of a substituted acrylic acid ester monomer and an acrylic acid ester monomer; copolymers obtained by the copolymerization of a substituted methacrylic acid ester monomer and an acrylic acid ester monomer; and copolymers obtained by the copolymerization of a substituted methacrylic acid ester monomer and a methacrylic acid ester monomer.

Mixtures of two or more of these homopolymers or copolymers can also be used in the practice of the present invention.

Generally, it is preferred that the thermoplastic acrylic polymers containing functional groups have an average molecular weight of at least about 20,000 and preferably at least about 50,000.

The thermoplastic acrylic polymers containing functional groups of the instant invention differ from thermosettable acrylic polymers in that these thermoplastic polymers are formed and applied as primers under conditions such that the functional groups do not react between themselves to effect a cross-linkage between the polymers. Thus, the primer layer contains thermoplastic acrylic polymers containing functional groups.

The thermoplastic acrylic polymers containing functional groups are in general applied as primers from a primer composition containing said thermoplastic acrylic polymers and a generally volatile solvent, either organic or inorganic in nature, which is inert, i.e., will not react with or deleteriously affect the polycarbonate resin, but which is capable of dissolving the thermoplastic acrylic polymers. Generally, the concentration of the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups in the primer composition ranges from about 0.5 to about 25 percent by weight, preferably from about 1 to about 15 percent by weight. Some nonlimiting examples of suitable organic solvents for the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups include the lower alkanols, ethylene glycol diacetate, and butoxy-ethanol.

A uniform film of the primer composition is applied onto the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound impregnated surface of the polycarbonate article by any of the know means such as dipping, spraying, roll-coating and the like. After the polycarbonate surface is coated with the primer composition, the inert volatile solvent component of the primer composition is evaporated thereby leaving a substantially solid primer layer on the polycarbonate surface comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups. Generally, the primer layer is a uniform film which is tenaciously adhered to the impregnated polycarbonate surface and has a thickness varying between about 0.002 mil to about 1 mil. preferably between about 0.01 mil to about 0.5 mil

This primer layer functions as an adhesion promoting layer for the silicon top coat which is disposed, adherently, on the outer surface of this primer layer. In the practice of this invention a top coat composition containing a colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane is applied onto the surface of the primer layer and the organopolysiloxane is then cured to form a top coat containing a colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane.

One type of colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane composition useful as the top coat composition in the practice of the present invention is that described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,997 and 4,027,073 and comprises a dispersion of colloidal silica in a lower aliphatic alcohol-water solution of the partial condensate of a silanol having the formula

    R.sup.9 Si(OH).sub.3                                       VIII.

wherein R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, the vinyl radical, the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl radical, the gamma-glycidoxypropyl radical and the gamma-methacryloxypropyl radical, with at least 70 weight percent by weight of said silanol being CH₃ Si(OH)₃. This composition generally contains from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight solids, said solids consisting essentially of a mixture of from about 10 to about 70 percent by weight of colloidal silica and from about 30 to about 90 percent by weight of the partial condensate of said silanol. The partial condensate of the silanol, i.e., a siloxanol, is preferably obtained entirely from the condensation of CH₃ Si(OH)₃, however, the partial condensate may also optionally be comprised of a major portion which is obtained from the condensation of CH₃ Si(OH)₃ and a minor portion which is obtained from the condensation of monoethyltrisilanol, monopropyltrisilanol, monovinyltrisilanol, monogamma-methacryloxypropyltrisilanol, monogamma-glycidoxypropyltrisilanol, mono-3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrisilanol, or mixtures thereof. The composition further contains sufficient acid to provide a pH in the range of from about 3.0 to about 6.0. The pH is maintained in this range in order to prevent premature gellation and increase the shelf life of the colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane top coat composition and to obtain the optimum properties in the cured coating obtained from this top coat composition. Suitable acids include both organic and inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, chloroacetic, acetic, citric, benzoic, formic, propionic, maleic, oxalic, glycolic and the like. The acid can be added to either the silane, which hydrolyzes in situ to form the silanol component of the composition, or the hydrosol prior to the mixing of these two components.

The trisilanol component of this composition is generated in situ by the addition of the corresponding trialkoxysilanes to aqueous dispersions of colloidal silica. Suitable trialkoxysilanes are those containing methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy and sec-butoxy groups. Upon generation of the silanol in the acidic aqueous medium there is condensation of the hydroxyl substituents to form --Si--O--Si-- bonding. The condensation is not complete, but rather the siloxane retains an appreciable quantity of silicon-bonded hydroxyl groups, thus rendering the partial condensate soluble in the water-alcohol solvent. This soluble condensate can be characterized as a siloxanol polymer having at least one silicon-bonded hydroxyl group per every three --Si--O-- units. During curing of the top coat composition, which has been applied as a thin layer onto the surface of the primer layer, further condensation of the uncondensed silanol groups occurs resulting in the formation of a substantially fully condensed and thermoset (cross-linked) colloidal silica filled organopolysiloxane.

The silica component of the top coat composition is present in the form of colloidal silica. Aqueous colloidal silica dispersions generally have a particle size in the range of from about 5 to about 150 millimicrons in diameter. These silica dispersions are prepared by methods well known in the art and are commercially available. It is preferred to use colloidal silica having a particle size in the range from about 10 to about 30 millimicrons in diameter in order to obtain dispersions having a greater stability and to provide top coats having superior optical properties.

The colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane top coat compositions are prepared by adding trialkoxysilanes to colloidal silica hydrosol and adjusting the pH to a range of between 3.0 and 6.0 by the addition of acid. As mentioned previously, the acid can be added to either the silane or the silia hydrosol before these two components are mixed. Alcohol is generated during the hydrolysis of the silanes to the silanols. Depending upon the percent solids desired in the final top coat composition, additional alcohol, water, or a water-miscible solvent can be added. Suitable alcohols are the lower aliphatic alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, tert-butanol, and mixtures thereof. Generally, the solvent system should contain from about 20 to about 75 weight percent alcohol to ensure solubility of the partial condensate of the silanol. If desired, a minor amount of an additional water miscible polar solvent such as acetone, butyl cellosolve, and the like can be added to the water-alcohol solvent system. Generally, sufficient alcohol or water-alcohol mixture is added to provide a composition containing from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight solids, said solids generally comprising from about 10 to about 70 weight percent of colloidal silica and from about 30 to about 90 percent by weight of the partial condensate of the silanol. The composition is allowed to age for a short period of time to ensure the formation of the partial condensate of the silanol. This condensation occurs upon the generation of the silanol in the acidic aqueous medium through the hydroxyl groups to form --Si--O--Si-- bonding. The condensation is not complete, resulting in a siloxane having an appreciable amount of silicon-bonded hydroxyl groups. This aged, colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane containing top coat composition is then applied onto the primed polycarbonate surface by any of the commonly used methods such as dipping, spraying, flow-coating and the like. After the top coat composition has been applied onto the primed polycarbonate surface a substantial amount of the volatile solvents present in the top coat composition are evaporated off by either air drying or mild heating. After evaporation of a substantial portion of the solvents from the top coat composition there is left on the surface of the primer layer a generally solid layer comprised of a colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane. Heat is then applied to thus further curable organopolysiloxane to effectuate further condensation of the silanols and the cross-linking of the polymer. The result is a colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane top coat which is highly resistant to scratching, abrasion, marring, and attack by chemical solvents, and which is tenaciously and durably adhered, by means of the primer layer, to the ultraviolet radiation absorber impregnated polycarbonate surface. Generally, this top coat contains from about 10 to about 70 weight percent of colloidal silica and from about 30 to about 70 weight percent of the thermoset organopolysiloxane.

The thickness of the cured top coat is generally dependent upon the method of application and upon the weight percent solids present in the top coat composition. In general, the higher the concentration of solids in the top coat composition, and the longer the residence time of the top coat composition on the primed polycarbonate surface, the greater the thickness of the cured top coat. Preferably the cured top coat has a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 0.7 mil, more preferably from about 0.15 to about 0.5 mil, and most preferably from about 0.2 to about 0.4 mil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to more fully and clearly illustrate the present invention the following specific examples are presented. It is intended that the examples be considered as illustrative of rather than limiting the invention disclosed and claimed herein. In the examples, all parts and percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1

A themoplastic acrylic polymer containing carboxyl functionality is made by combining 100 grams of methyl methacrylate, 10 grams of ethyl methacrylate, 2 grams of methacrylic acid, 360 grams of butoxyethanol, 0.03 grams of dodecanethiol, and 0.15 grams of 2,2-azo-bis-isobutyro nitrile, and stirring under nitrogen for 65 hours at 90° C. GPC analysis indicates that the resultant polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 199,000 and a number average molecular weight of 36,000. The polymer is isolated by precipitating in methanol, filtering and drying at 60° C. in a vacuum oven.

EXAMPLE 2

A primer composition is made by dissolving 5 parts by weight of the polymer from Example 1 in 95 parts by weight of 50% aqueous butoxyethanol containing 0.3% triethylamine.

EXAMPLE 3

The surface layers of a polycarbonate test panel 4"×4"×1/4" are impregnated with an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound by flow coating the panels with an ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition comprised of a 5% solution of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone dissolved in butoxyethanol. The coated panels are drained for one minute and are heated at 125° C. for 15 minutes to surface impregnate the panels with the ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.

A primer layer comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups is applied onto the surface impregnated polycarbonate panels by flow coating the panels with the primer composition of Example 2. The test panels are drained for 15 minutes and heated at 125° C. for 30 minutes to evaporate off a substantial amount of the volatile solvents present in the primer composition and to leave a substantially solid primer layer comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups.

A colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane top coat is applied onto the primed test panels by flow coating the primed panels with a top coat composition containing about 18% solids, about 50% of these solids being colloidal silica and about 50% of these solids being the partial condensate of CH₃ Si(OH)₃, in a lower aliphatic alcohol-water system, and having a pH of 3.9. The panels coated with this top coat composition are drained for 30 minutes and are then baked at 125° C. for one hour to cure the further curable organopolysiloxane to the thermoset state.

EXAMPLE 4

Ultraviolet radiation stabilized, primed and top coated polycarbonate test panels are prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 3 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 5% of 2-(3',5'-di-t-pentyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.

EXAMPLE 5

Ultraviolet radiation stabilized, primed and top coated polycarbonate test panels are prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 3 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 5% of dimethyl (p-methoxybenzylidene) malonate ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.

EXAMPLE 6

Ultraviolet radiation stabilized, primed and top coated polycarbonate test panels are prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 3 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 5% of ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacrylate ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.

EXAMPLE 7

Ultraviolet radiation stabilized, primed and top coated polycarbonate test panels are prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 3 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 5% of 2-ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacrylate ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.

EXAMPLE 8

This example is illustrative of a prior art primed and top coated, but no ultraviolet radiation stabilized, polycarbonate resin article falling outside the scope of the present invention. The surfaces of polycarbonate test panels 4"×4"×1/4" are primed with a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups primer layer by flow coating the panels with the primer composition of Example 2. The test panels are drained for 15 minutes and heated at 125° C. for 30 minutes to evaporate off a substantial amount of the volatile solvents present in the primer composition and to leave a substantially solid primer layer comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups.

A colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane top coat is applied onto the primed test panels by flow coating the primed panels with a top coat composition containing about 18% solids, about 50% of these solids being colloidal silica and about 50% of these solids being the partial condensate of CH₃ Si(OH)₃, in a lower aliphatic alcohol-water system, and having a pH of 3.9. The panels coated with this top coat composition are drained for 30 minutes and are then baked at 125° C. for one hour to cure the further curable organopolysiloxane to the thermoset state.

The test panels prepared in Examples 3-8 are then tested for initial adhesion of the top coat and for adhesion of the top coat after aging in a QUV accelerated weathering device. The results of these tests are set forth in Table I. The adhesion test consists of using a multiple blade tool to cut parallel grooves about 1 mm. apart through the coating into the substrate, rotating the sample 90° and repeating the cutting process thereby forming a grid pattern of 1 mm. squares cut into the coating, and applying an adhesive tape over the cross-hatched area and quickly pulling the tape off. A sample fails the adhesion test if any of the squares in the grid are pulled off. In the QUV accelerated weathering test the samples are inserted into a QUV accelerated weathering device sold by the Q-Panel Company. This device is set to alternating consecutive cycles of fluorescent ultraviolet light at 70° C. for 8 hours and high humidity at 50° C. for 4 hours. The test panels are periodically removed from the QUV accelerated weathering device and subjected to the adhesion test.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                                          No. of Hours of                                                                Exposure in the QUV                                                            Weathering Device at                                                                           Appearance of                                 Example                                                                               Initial   which Sample Fails                                                                             Sample after                                  No.    Adhesion  the Adhesion Test                                                                              Weathering                                    ______________________________________                                         3      Pass      Pass after 197  Colorless                                                      hours                                                         4      Pass      Pass after 189  Colorless                                                      hours                                                         5      Pass      Pass after 197  Colorless                                                      hours                                                         6      Pass      Pass after 189  Colorless                                                      hours                                                         7      Pass      Pass after 146  Colorless                                                      hours, marginal                                                                at 197 hours                                                  8      Pass      Fail at 146     Yellow                                                         hours                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 9

The surface layers of a polycarbonate film 2"×4"×1/100" are impregnated with an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound by flow coating the film with an ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition comprised of a solution of 1% of dimethyl (p-methoxybenzylidene)malonate dissolved in butoxyethanol. The coated film is drained for less than one minute and then heated at 125° C. for 5 minutes. The treated film is placed in the sample beam of a Perkin-Elmer Model Coleman 575 Spectrophotometer and an untreated film is placed in the reference beam. The absorbance of the treated film is obtained using the relationship A=log(I_(o) /I) where A is the absorbance, I_(o) is the intensity of incident ultraviolet light, and I is the intensity of transmitted ultraviolet light. The amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the treated film is also obtained and the results are set forth in Table II.

EXAMPLE 10

An ultraviolet radiation stabilized polycarbonate film is prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 9 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 2% of dimethyl (p-methoxybenzylidene) malonate. Absorbance of this film is determined according to the procedure of Example 9 and the results are set forth in Table II.

EXAMPLE 11

An ultraviolet radiation stabilized polycarbonate film is prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 9 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 3% of dimethyl (p-methoxybenzylidene) malonate ultraviolet radiation absorber. Absorbance of this film is determined according to the procedure of Example 9 and the results are set forth in Table II.

EXAMPLE 12

An ultraviolet radiation stabilized polycarbonate film is prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 9 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 1% of 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone ultraviolet radiation absorber. Absorbance of this film is determined according to the procedure of Example 9 and the results are set forth in Table II.

EXAMPLE 13

An ultraviolet radiation stabilized polycarbonate film is prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 9 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 2% of 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone ultraviolet radiation absorber. Absorbance of this film is determined according to the procedure of Example 9 and the results are set forth in Table II.

EXAMPLE 14

An ultraviolet radiation stabilized polycarbonate film is prepared substantially in accordance with the procedure of Example 9 except that the ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition contains 3% of 2,2',4,4'-tertahydroxybenzophenone ultraviolet radiation absorber. Absorbance of this film is determined according to the procedure of Example 9 and the results are set forth in Table II.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                                    Absorbance at  % UV-light Absorbed                                  Example Number                                                                            λ maximum                                                                              at λ maximum                                  ______________________________________                                          9         1.17           93%                                                  10         2.64           >99%                                                 11         >3             >99.9%                                               12         0.87           88%                                                  13         1.77           98%                                                  14         2.61           >99%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

It is clear from the data in Table I that the adhesion after exposure to weathering of the colloidal silica filled silicone top coat to the ultraviolet radiation surface stabilized polycarbonate articles of the present invention, i.e., Examples 3-7, is superior to that of the prior art polycarbonate articles which do not contain an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound impregnated in their surface layers, i.e., Example 8. This is rather surprising and unexpected since it is well known to those skilled in the art that modification of the surface of a polycarbonate resin by the incorporation therein of an additive produces unexpected and unpredictable effects on the adhesion of coatings to this treated surface. These effects are oftentimes negative in that the adhesion, both initial adhesion and adhesion after exposure to weathering, but particularly the adhesion after exposure to weathering, of the coating to the treated polycarbonate surface is adversely affected. The articles of the present invention not only possess better adhesion of the silicone top coat to the treated polycarbonate substrate than the prior art articles, but are also resistant to degradation by ultraviolet radiation, as can be seen by a comparison of the appearance of the articles of Examples 3-7 with that of Example 8.

Table II illustrates the fact that treating polycarbonate resins with the preferred ultraviolet radiation stabilizing composition, i.e., a composition containing an ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound and a nonaggressive liquid carrier therefor, results in a resin whose surface areas absorb the great majority of incident ultraviolet radiation. This protection against degradation by ultraviolet radiation is achieved without any visible deleterious effect on the surface characteristics of the treated polycarbonate resin.

While one particularly preferred colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane top coat composition has been described in detail hereinbefore, this is not the only type of colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane top coat composition which can be utilized in producing the colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane top coat of the present invention. Another colloidal silica filled further curable organopolysiloxane containing top coat composition which might be used is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,206. This composition comprises about 30-50 parts by weight of a colloidal silica and about 50-70 parts by weight of (i) dialkyldialkoxysilane and (ii) alkyltrialkoxysilane wherein the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) is from about 1:19 to about 1:4.

In this composition the silanes generate the corresponding silanols in situ by the addition of the corresponding di- and trialkoxysilanes to acidic aqueous dispersions of colloidal silica. The resulting composition comprises a dispersion of colloidal silica in the lower aliphatic alcohol-water solution of the partial condensate of a mixture of silanols, one having the formula R¹⁰ Si(OH)₃ and one having the formula R¹¹ R¹⁰ Si(OH)₂ in which R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are selected independently from the group consisting of alkyl radicals of 1 to 3 inclusive carbon atoms, the vinyl radical, the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl radical, the gamma-glycidoxypropyl radical, the gamma-acryloxypropyl radical, and the gamma-methacryloxypropyl radical, said composition containing 10 to 50 weight percent solids, the ratio of colloidal silica to partial condensate being from about 1:1 to about 3:7 by weight, said composition containing sufficient acid to provide a pH in the range of 3.0 to 6.0.

The nonvolatile solids portion of this coating composition is a mixture of colloidal silica and the partial condensate of a mixture of silanols. The silanols are generated in situ by hydrolysis of the corresponding mixture of (i) dialkyldialkoxysilane and (ii) alkyltrialkoxysilane. Suitable dialkoxy and trialkoxysilanes are those containing methoxy, ethoxy, isopropoxy and t-butoxy substituents, which upon hydrolysis liberate the corresponding alcohol, thereby generating at least a portion of the alcohol present in the composition. Upon generation of the silanol in the acidic aqueous medium, there is condensation of the hydroxyl substituents to form --Si--O--Si-- bonding. The condensation is not complete, but rather the siloxane retains an appreciable quantity of silicon-bonded hydroxyl groups, thus rendering the polymer soluble in the water-alcohol solvent. This soluble partial condensate can be characterized as a siloxanol polymer having at least one silicon-bonded hydroxyl group per every three --SiO-- units.

Upon curing there is further condensation of the silanols and cross linking to form a thermoset organopolysiloxane.

From the foregoing it is quite evident that the instant invention provides both articles and a method of producing these articles which are resistant to degradation by ultraviolet light, abrasion and attack by chemical solvents and which yet retain all of the desirable and excellent physical and chemical properties of unstabilized and uncoated polycarbonate resin.

The foregoing disclosure of this invention is not to be considered as limiting, since many variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the foregoing description. 

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. An improved coated polycarbonate resin article exhibiting improved resistance to degradation by ultraviolet radiation and improved adhesion and weatherability of the coating comprising a polycarbonate resin substrate having durably adhered to at least one surface thereof a coating comprised of (i) an adhesion promoting primer layer disposed on said surface comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups, and (ii) adherently disposed on said primer layer a top coat containing a colloidal silica filled thermoset organopolysiloxane; the improvement consisting essentially of the surface of said polycarbonate substrate on which said coating is disposed being impregnated with at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.
 2. The article of claim 1 wherein said top coat contains from about 10 to about 70 weight percent of colloidal silica.
 3. The article of claim 2 wherein said top coat contains from about 30 to about 90 weight percent of the condensation product of at least one silanol.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein said silanol is selected from the group represented by the formula R⁹ Si(OH)₃ wherein R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals, the vinyl radical, the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl radical, the gamma-glycidoxypropyl radical, and the gamma-methacryloxypropyl radical.
 5. The article of claim claim 4 wherein at least 70 weight percent of said silanol is CH₃ Si(OH)₃.
 6. The article of claim 5 wherein said silanol is CH₃ Si(OH)₃.
 7. The article of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is selected from the group consisting of benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, benzylidene malonates, and cyanoacrylates.
 8. The article of claim 5 wherein said ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is selected from the group consisting of benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, benzylidene malonates, and cyanoacrylates.
 9. The article of claim 8 wherein said benzylidene malonates are represented by the formula ##STR6## wherein X is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl, and alkoxy radicals; and R and R¹ are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, and aralkyl radicals.
 10. The article of claim 8 wherein said cyanoacrylates are selected from compounds represented by the formula ##STR7## wherein R² is an alkyl or a hydroxyalkyl radical.
 11. The article of claim 7 wherein said functional groups present in the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups are selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, Si(OR⁷)₃, or mixtures thereof, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl groups.
 12. The article of claim 8 wherein said functional groups present in the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups are selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, Si(OR⁷)₃, or mixtures thereof, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl groups.
 13. The article of claim 12 wherein said thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups is a copolymer obtained by the copolymerization of (i) at least one monomer represented by the formula H₂ C═CY--COOR⁵ Z wherein Y is hydrogen or a methyl radical, R⁵ is a saturated divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and Z is selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, and Si(OR⁷)₃ groups wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl radicals; with (ii) at least one monomer represented by the formula H₂ C═CY¹ --COOR⁸ wherein Y¹ is hydrogen or a methyl radical and R⁸ is an alkyl radical.
 14. The article of claim 13 wherein said polycarbonate resin substrate is non-opaque.
 15. An improved coated polycarbonate article exhibiting improved resistance to degradation by ultraviolet radiation and improved adhesion and weatherability of the coating comprising a polycarbonate resin substrate having adherently disposed on at least one surface thereof (i) an adhesion promoting primer layer containing a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups disposed on said surface; and (ii) adherently disposed on said primer layer a top coat containing the cured product of a composition comprised of a dispersion of colloidal silica in a lower aliphatic alcohol-water solution of the partial condensate of at least one silanol, said composition containing from about 10 to about 50 weight percent solids comprised of from about 10 to about 70 weight percent colloidal silica and from about 30 to about 90 weight percent of the partial condensate; the improvement consisting essentially of the surface layers of the surface of said polycarbonate substrate on which said primer layer and said top coat are disposed being impregnated with at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.
 16. The article of claim 15 wherein said silanol is represented by the formula R⁹ Si(OH)₃ wherein R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals, the vinyl radical, the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl radical, the gamma-glycidoxypropyl radical, and the gamma-methacryloxypropyl radical.
 17. The article of claim 16 wherein at least 70 weight percent of said silanol is CH₃ Si(OH)₃.
 18. The article of claim 17 wherein said top coat composition contains sufficient acid to provide a pH of from 3.0 to 6.0.
 19. The article of claim 15 wherein said ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is selected from the class consisting of benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, benzylidene malonates, and cyanoacrylates.
 20. The article of claim 19 wherein said functional groups present in the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups are selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, Si(OR⁷)₃, and mixtures thereof, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are selected from alkyl radicals.
 21. The article of claim 18 wherein said ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is selected from the class consisting of benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, benzylidene malonates, and cyanoacrylates.
 22. The article of claim 21 wherein said benzylidene malonates are represented by the formula ##STR8## wherein X is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl, and alkoxy radicals; and R and R¹ are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, and aralkyl radicals.
 23. The article of claim 21 wherein said cyanoacrylates are selected from compounds represented by the formula ##STR9## wherein R² is an alkyl or a hydroxyalkyl radical.
 24. The article of claim 21 wherein said functional groups present in the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups are selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, Si(OR⁷)₃, and mixtures thereof, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl radicals.
 25. The article of claim 24 wherein said thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups is a copolymer obtained by the copolymerization of (i) at least one monomer represented by the formula H₂ C═CY--COOR⁵ Z wherein Y is hydrogen or a methyl radical, R⁵ is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocabon radical containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and Z is selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, and Si(OR⁷)₃ groups wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl radicals; with (ii) at least one monomer represented by the formula H₂ C═CY¹ --COOR⁸ wherein Y¹ is hydrogen or a methyl radical, and R⁸ is an alkyl radical.
 26. The article of claim 25 wherein said polycarbonate substrate is non-opaque.
 27. An improved coated polycarbonate article exhibiting improved resistance to degradation by ultraviolet radiation and improved weatherability of the coating comprising a polycarbonate resin substrate having disposed on at least one surface thereof (i) an adhesion promoting primer layer comprised of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups disposed adherently on said surface; and (ii) a further curable top coat composition disposed on said primer layer, said top coat composition comprised of a dispersion of colloidal silica in a lower aliphatic alcohol-water solution of the partial condensate of at least one silanol, said composition containing from about 10 to about 50 weight percent solids comprised of from about 10 to about 70 weight percent colloidal silica and from about 30 to about 90 weight percent of said partial condensate; the improvement consisting essentially of the surface of said polycarbonate substrate on which said primer layer and said top coat composition are disposed being impregnated with at least one ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound.
 28. The article of claim 27 wherein said silanol has the formula R⁹ Si(OH)₃ wherein R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals, the vinyl radical, the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl radical, the gamma-glycidoxypropyl radical, and the gamma-methacryloxypropyl radical.
 29. The article of claim 28 wherein at least about 70 weight percent of said silanol is CH₃ Si(OH)₃.
 30. The article of claim 29 wherein said top coat composition contains sufficient acid to provide a pH of from 3.0 to 6.0.
 31. The article of claim 30 wherein said silanol is CH₃ Si(OH)₃.
 32. The article of claim 27 wherein said ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is selected from the group consisting of benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, benzylidene malonates, and cyanoacrylates.
 33. The article of claim 32 wherein said functional groups present in the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups are selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, Si(OR⁷)₃, or mixtures thereof, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl radicals.
 34. The article of claim 30 wherein said ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound is selected from the group consisting of benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, benzylidene malonates, and cyanoacrylates.
 35. The article of claim 34 wherein said benzylidene malonates are represented by the formula ##STR10## wherein X is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl, and alkoxy radicals; and R and R¹ are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, and aralkyl radicals.
 36. The article of claim 34 wherein said cyanoacrylates are selected from compounds represented by the formula ##STR11## wherein R² is an alkyl or a hydroxyalkyl radical.
 37. The article of claim 34 wherein said functional groups present in the thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups are selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, Si(OR⁷)₃, and mixtures thereof, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ represent alkyl radicals.
 38. The article of claim 37 wherein said thermoplastic acrylic polymer containing functional groups is a copolymer obtained by the copolymerization of (i) at least one monomer represented by the formula H₂ C═CY--COOR⁵ Z wherein Y is hydrogen or a methyl radical, R⁵ is a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and Z is selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, epoxide, amide, SH, SO₃ H, COOR⁶, and Si(OR⁷)₃ groups wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are alkyl radicals; with (ii) at least one monomer represented by the formula H₂ C═CY¹ --COOR⁸ wherein Y¹ is hydrogen or a methyl radical, and R⁸ is an alkyl radical.
 39. The article of claim 38 wherein said polycarbonate resin substrate is non-opaque. 